MCCSC programs discussed at school board meeting

Justin Robertson-Goodman received the Panther it Forward Award Tuesday night at the MCCSC school board meeting. Robertson-Goodman won the award for holding the doors open every day for teachers and students at Bloomington High School South. "It fills me with joy in the morning," he said.
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Teachers gathered with school board members Tuesday to discuss programs they were passionate about.

The Monroe County Community Schools Corporation school board reviewed updates on various programs in place at MCCSC schools at its board meeting Tuesday night.

The meeting’s agenda featured a review of financial reports of the last month, donations for the district and a report from Superintendent Judy DeMuth.

DeMuth said there was a lot to highlight at the meeting. She also said Fairview Elementary School’s artful learning open house night showcased student’s artistic abilities.

“We saw a lot of smiles,” Demuth said. “That’s what we want out of this.”

The board then called Lisa Roberts, principal at Grandview Elementary School, to the podium to update the board on the school’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics certification.

Grandview Elementary School became a STEM school in the 2016-17 school year. Grandview is the first MCCSC school to become a certified STEM school.

Roberts said when the school first started on the endeavor to become a STEM school, the goal was to give its students real-world experience, make them problem solvers and immerse the students in science and technology.

Roberts addressed the school board on the quickness of the school’s certification and she said she gives credit to the teachers and community support of the school.

“Without all the hard work done by our staff, we wouldn’t be certified as quickly as we were,” Roberts said. “We wouldn’t be leading the way towards more STEM education in the rest of the state.”

She said as each semester goes on teachers will add additional curriculum to each topic they choose for students to learn and adapt the program.

“The community relationships we’re bringing through the doors is just wonderful,” Roberts said. “It brings opportunity for the students that we’re really excited about.”

Board member Jeannine Butler congratulated Grandview on its plans for the future and the work it has done so far.

“It’s nice to see both teachers and students excited about something,” Butler said.

The board was also updated on the cultural competency program by Kathleen Hugo, director of special education.

Hugo works with schools to create an effective process of learning among people from different cultures.

Hugo said she and MCCSC realize cultural competency does not occur as a result of a single day of training.

“It doesn’t occur as a single day of training or reading a book or taking a course,” Hugo said. “Educators become culturally competent over time.”

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